Reticulated metal structube



H. E. BARTSCH RETICULATEDMETAL STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan 23, 1937Reissued Dec. 23, 1941 RETICULATED METAL STRUCTURE Herbert E. Bartsch,Chicago, 11]., assignor to Universal Railway Devices Company, acorporation of Delaware Original No. 2,227,874, dated January "I, 1941,Serial No. 302,582, November 2, 1939, which is a division of Serial No.252,373, January 23, 1937. Application for reissue August 19, 1941,Serial Claims.

This invention relates to metallic constructions and more particularlyto reticulated metal structures.

In the use of reticulated metal for running boards for motor vehicles,treads for fire escapes, steps and running boards for railway cars, andthe like, it is desirable that the exposed surface be such as to insureagainst slipping or sliding and to guard against accidents. In order topromote safety in such structures, it is desirable that the constructionbe such that the shoe soles of the person walking on such surface shallengage a maximum area as otherwise there is ever present the danger ofthe foot improperly engaging the surface and slipping 0r skiddingthereby causing a turning or twisting of the foot which might result ingrave consequences or even in serious accidents.

The present invention seeks to avoid these difflcultles by the provisionof a new and improved structure which is preferably formed of expandedmetal having a great amount of the upper cut portions or strands in acommon plane with the upper surface of the uncut portions or webs.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedexpanded metal tread that not only provides an extended sole engagingsurface but is also provided with anti-slipping means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improvedexpanded metal suitable for treads for various structures but is alsoadapted for other uses such as a support on which clerks and attendantsat soda fountains and bars may stand while serving cold drinks tocustomers in order to protect them from the liquids that may have beenspilled on the floor.

Other and further objects and advantages of .andl-l 01mm.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character ll designates arailway car having a roof II on which is mounted the running board IIwhich comprises a frame member II to which is secured the tread portionIt. The tread por- Hon-comprises a reticulated sheet, preferably oftion. The opposite side edges of the tread extend upwardly and outwardlyin the running board, as shown in Fig. 1.

The running board I2 is provided with a. lateral at the end of the caras shown at illl in Fig. 1. The board extends beyond the car end and issupported by braces IS in the usual manner. Since the details of thesupporting frame are shown and described in my copending application,Serial No. 252,373, filed January 23, 1937, of which this is a division,and since these details constitute no part of the present invention, itis not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

In the construction of conventional lengths of expanded metal, it iscommon practice to so cut and form the expanded sheet that theconnecting or cut portions thereof, which are within the scope of theterm strands? as used herein, will be more or less straight and willextend in a substantially straight line from the lower part of an uncutportion, which is one type of web as that term is used herein, to theupper part of an adjacent uncut portion, and as a result no more than aminor part of the uncut portion forms the tread when used as a step orrunning board. In a preferred form of embodiment of the presentinvention this diihculty is remedied by the provision of any expandedmetal strip in which the cut portion of the strip has a very large partof its length straight and horizontal and in the plane of what forconvenience of description will be termed'the tread or upper surface ofthe uncut portions of the strip.

As shown, the strip H has the connecting members l6 of the expandedstrip extending upwardly and laterally as at H, Fig. 4, and then has themajor part of the cut portion extending laterally horizontally as at Iso that these horizontal portions will be in a common plane with oneanother and with the upper surface of the uncut portions ID, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 4.

The connecting portions it have one of their edges 2| extending abovethe other, that is, the connecting portions, which are substantiallyrectangular in cross-section, are slightly twisted so that one edge isabove the others and this edge,

being more or less sharp, tends to bite into the shoe sole or heel to acertain extent thereby constituting anti-slipping means for the tread.

It will thus be seen that with such an arrangement, the shoe 22 of aperson walking on the surface of the tread I, Fig. 3, will not onlyengage a major portion of the upper surface of the expanded metal,embodying the present invento tread but the side edges 2| will tend to'prevent slipping or sliding in any direction of the shoe sole and heelalong the surface of the tread.

It is thought from the foregoing, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, that the construction of my device will beapparent tothoseskilledintheartandthatchangesin size, shape, proportionor details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sheet of reticulated metal adapted to be supported as a treadsurface comprising a series of integrally connected webs and strandseach substantially polygonal in cross section, said webs being staggeredand spaced with respect to each other, said webs having their upper, topedges in a single plane and each strand extending from the bottom of oneof the webs to the top of an adJacent web and each having a portioninclined upwardly, and a substantial portion oi. the strand extending insaid plane to provide an anti-slip tread.

2. A sheet of reticulated metal adapted to be supported as a treadsurface comprising a series of integrally connected webs and strandseach substantially polygonal in cross section, said webs beingstaggered-and spaced with respect to each other and inclined withrespect to the plane of the sheet, said webs having their top edges in asingle plane, and each strand extending from the bottom of one of thewebs to the top of an adjacent web and having a portion inclinedupwardly and a substantial portion of each strand extending in saidplane to provide an anti-slip tread.

3. A sheet of reticulated metal adapted to be supported as a treadsurface comprising a series 01' integrally connected webs and strandseach substantially polygonal in cross section, said webs being staggeredand spaced with respect to each other and having their top edges in asingle plane, and each strand extending from the bottom of one oi thewebs to the top of an adjacent web and each having a relativelyshort'portion inclined upwardly and a substantial portion or the strandextending in said plane and being inclined to provide a relatively sharpedge in said plane to provide an anti-slip tread.

4. A sheet of reticulated metal adapted to be supported as a treadsurface comprising a series of integrally connected (webs and strandseach polygonal in cross section, said webs being staggered and spacedwith respect to each other and having their top edges in a single planeand inclined with respect to said plane, and each strand extending fromthe bottom of one of the webs to the top of an adjacent web and having arelatively short portion inclined upwardly and a substantial portion ofthe strand extending in said plane and being inclined to provide arelatively sharp edge in said plane to provide an anti-slip tread.

5. A sheet of reticulated metal comprising a series of integrallyconnected webs and strands each substantially polygonal incross-section, said webs being staggered and spaced with respect to eachother, said webs having their upper, top edges in a single plane andeach strand extending from the bottom of one of the webs to an adjacentweb and each having a portion inclined, said inclined portions extendingupwardly to said plane at points spaced material distances from saidwebs, each of said strands having a portion in said plane cooperatingwith said webs to form anti-slip tread surfaces in said plane.

HERBERT E. BARTSCH.

